Job 13

1 “Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].

See, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.

What you know, the same I also know; I am not inferior to you.

3 But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).

However, I would rather speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.

4 As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].

But you whitewash the truth with lies; you are all physicians of no value.

5 I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].

Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! That would be your wisdom.

6 Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].

Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.

7 Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and will you talk deceitfully for him?

8 Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?

Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?

9 If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?

Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?

10 If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.

He would surely reprove you if in secret you showed partiality.

11 He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.

Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

12 The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].

Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes; your defenses are defenses made of clay.

13 “So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.

Hold your peace, let me alone, so that I may speak, let come what may on me.

14 I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].

I will take my own flesh in my teeth; I will take my life in my hands.

15 If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].

See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left; nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.

16 No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”

This will be the reason for my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.

17 “God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].

God, listen carefully to my speech; let my declaration come to your ears.

18 I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.

See now, I have set my defense in order; I know that I am innocent.

19 I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.

Who is the one who would argue against me in court? If you came to do so, and if I were proved wrong, then I would be silent and give up my life.

20 “I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].

God, do only two things for me, and then I will not hide myself from your face:

21 [The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.

withdraw your oppressive hand from me, and do not let your terrors make me afraid.

22 You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.

Then call me, and I will answer; or let me speak to you, and you answer me.

23 What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?

Why do you hide your face from me and treat me like your enemy?

25 I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?

Will you persecute a driven leaf? Will you pursue dry stubble?

26 [It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.

For you write down bitter things against me; you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 [It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].

You also put my feet in the stocks; you closely watch all my paths; you examine the ground where the soles of my feet have walked

28 [As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”

although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away, like a garment that moths have eaten.